Acute Neck Pain

What can I do to help myself?

• Avoid Painful Movements and Positions – If it hurts, don’t do it.
• Ice - the base of the neck; 10-15 minutes at least 4 times each day - Continue icing 4 times daily for the 1st few days, then 2-3 times each day as long as symptoms last. A bag of frozen vegetables or a gel ice pack works well.
• Medication - Talk to your health care provider or consult the Healthwise Handbook. It may take 10-14 days for the medication to be fully effective.
• Gentle Movements – Gentle pain-free movements help to promote healing by relaxing the neck, improving the circulation and decreasing the inflammation.
• Sleeping Position – Use good support for your neck to allow you to sleep comfortably through the night. Adequate rest is very important to your recovery.

What causes it?

• Repeated movements or sustained positions such as:
  • Poor sitting alignment while working at your desk or computer
  • Writing or typing with the telephone crooked with the neck.
  • Working with your shoulders forward causing the head to tilt back.
  • Sleeping in an awkward position
  • Sitting in a car longer than usual
  • Looking up repeatedly as in hanging wallpaper or watching an air show
• Arthritis or age related changes result in bony spurring and narrowing of the disc space. Joints with arthritis may become more easily inflamed by repeated movements or sustained positions.
• Stressful work or home situations, can increase the tension in the neck muscles which in turn causes greater compressive forces on the joint